in my time, it would be Mike Singletary, Junior Seau, Lawrence Taylor

But i agree Ray is one of the Elite LB of all time. top 3 for sure.

also, lets clear this up the confusion

5 Common Misconceptions About Ray Lewis’ Murder Trial

By: Eric Thomas

Ray Lewis seems poised to ride into the sunset like Jerome Bettis if
the Ravens win in the linebacker’s second championship game. Lewis looms
large in a Super Bowl without superstars and gets the reflected glow of
the big game. That spotlight exposes some gnarly fissures on him; some
scabbed over scars of whispers and rumor. Self righteous types cluck
their tongues to this day and mouth the word: “Murderer.”

His trial was thirteen years ago, so memories faded. When facts fall
out of the mouths of commentators, there is a fast and loose quality to
them. I have read articles recently shaded to indicate Lewis’
implication in the murder and some that are flat out false.

There is prejudice here. It is undeniable that many associate Lewis’
case with the Simpson case. They fill in the parts they don’t know with
details from OJ’s eventual acquittal.

Here are five common misconceptions about the murder case involving Ray Lewis:

Ray Lewis was involved in a murder – Ray Lewis was an
eventual witness in a murder case. He was charged with the murder of
Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar along with his two companions Reginald
Oakley and Joseph Sweeting. The murder charges stemmed from a vicious
fight in Atlanta streets following a Super Bowl Party in 2000.
Eventually, the case ended with the defendants acquitted for reasons of
self defense. In the eyes of the court, no murder took place.

Ray Lewis’ friends went to jail to protect him – This is in a lot of blogs and opinion pieces. It’s just not true. No one in this case went to jail.

Ray Lewis refused to testify against his friends in the murder trial
– It’s the opposite. Ray Lewis started the trial at the table with
Oakley and Sweeting. He flipped, pleading down to an obstruction of
justice charge in exchange for testimony. Lewis was the state’s star
witness. Some sources say the three men were no longer friends because
of the alleged betrayal. Ironically, the only person to serve any
sentence in this case at all was Lewis. Had he not flipped, he likely
would have walked away with the same acquittal as the other defendants.

The murders were never solved – This is written a lot, along
with something to the effect that no other suspects were ever arrested.
It doesn’t seem to be in dispute that Oakley and Sweeting killed Baker
and Lollar. The jury found that it was self defense after only a few
hours of deliberation.

Ray Lewis is a murderer – Ray wasn’t involved in the fight
that killed the two men. His companions were. Lewis wanted no part of
the fight, but not for some moral or noble reason. He wanted to avoid
the conflict because he was concerned it might hurt his NFL career.
Throughout the process, Lewis seemed consumed with protecting his then
burgeoning NFL superstar status. He made them promise silence in the
limo afterward and lied to police the morning after. He flipped on his
buddies to avoid scrutiny.

But I'm throwing out the ginger Karl Mecklenberg! Anyone remember that guy? Played for Denver. He was a real nice guy and was damn good. Hell I don't remember him playing much, but I did meet him on the Tarmac before a road trip and he was a very nice guy. Number 77, Orange Crush Defense. Ahhh, those were the days.

in my time, it would be Mike Singletary, Junior Seau, Lawrence Taylor

But i agree Ray is one of the Elite LB of all time. top 3 for sure.

also, lets clear this up the confusion

5 Common Misconceptions About Ray Lewis’ Murder Trial

By: Eric Thomas

Ray Lewis seems poised to ride into the sunset like Jerome Bettis if the Ravens win in the linebacker’s second championship game. Lewis looms large in a Super Bowl without superstars and gets the reflected glow of the big game. That spotlight exposes some gnarly fissures on him; some scabbed over scars of whispers and rumor. Self righteous types cluck their tongues to this day and mouth the word: “Murderer.”

His trial was thirteen years ago, so memories faded. When facts fall out of the mouths of commentators, there is a fast and loose quality to them. I have read articles recently shaded to indicate Lewis’ implication in the murder and some that are flat out false.

There is prejudice here. It is undeniable that many associate Lewis’ case with the Simpson case. They fill in the parts they don’t know with details from OJ’s eventual acquittal.

Here are five common misconceptions about the murder case involving Ray Lewis:

Ray Lewis was involved in a murder – Ray Lewis was an eventual witness in a murder case. He was charged with the murder of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar along with his two companions Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting. The murder charges stemmed from a vicious fight in Atlanta streets following a Super Bowl Party in 2000. Eventually, the case ended with the defendants acquitted for reasons of self defense. In the eyes of the court, no murder took place.

Ray Lewis’ friends went to jail to protect him – This is in a lot of blogs and opinion pieces. It’s just not true. No one in this case went to jail.

Ray Lewis refused to testify against his friends in the murder trial – It’s the opposite. Ray Lewis started the trial at the table with Oakley and Sweeting. He flipped, pleading down to an obstruction of justice charge in exchange for testimony. Lewis was the state’s star witness. Some sources say the three men were no longer friends because of the alleged betrayal. Ironically, the only person to serve any sentence in this case at all was Lewis. Had he not flipped, he likely would have walked away with the same acquittal as the other defendants.

The murders were never solved – This is written a lot, along with something to the effect that no other suspects were ever arrested. It doesn’t seem to be in dispute that Oakley and Sweeting killed Baker and Lollar. The jury found that it was self defense after only a few hours of deliberation.

Ray Lewis is a murderer – Ray wasn’t involved in the fight that killed the two men. His companions were. Lewis wanted no part of the fight, but not for some moral or noble reason. He wanted to avoid the conflict because he was concerned it might hurt his NFL career. Throughout the process, Lewis seemed consumed with protecting his then burgeoning NFL superstar status. He made them promise silence in the limo afterward and lied to police the morning after. He flipped on his buddies to avoid scrutiny.

Where's the part where it is a misconception that he told authorities that he "lost" his suit he was wearing that night? Oh wait... he did tell them that. I guess that's normal. I always lose my clothes when I go out.

I suppose everyone on here that is saying Ray had nothing to do with the death of these two guys also believe OJ had nothing to do with killing his wife and her friend. Go stick your heads back in the sand.

how has no one mentioned the 14 bullets in lewis's ride that night..........when I go out to the club I dont seem to come home with 14 bullets in my ride.....guess that is why they called is SELF DEFENSE !!!!!

So much easier for people on this sight to just go with whatever their latest fantasy was rather than focusing on facts. I swear the more I read some of these posts it seems more and more like people are confusing Ray Lewis situation with Ray Caruth

How soon we forget that that piece of garbage Ray Lewis and his budies got away with murder after the Superbowl. They stabbed to death an innocent little hairdresser........Cant stand Ray Lewis wish he lost and hope the Niners kill them

Agree, but I dont hate the guy, just think he should be in prision not on a football field!

When you are hopeless, you have to rely on your dreams, you are one sad individual. Murderers are fine in your world, its accepted behavior.

Blaming every penn state alum, fan for loving child molestors is like blaming every black man for murders one commits, every white kid as a mass school murderer etc.

Its sick, prejudice, and ignorant. You use MLK day as a badge of honor, a way to feel superior than others, but MLK would tell you to get educated. This was not his dream, you dont change the world for the better, people like you add fuel to a fire and make it worse.

You are an internet thug, who discredits his wealth of football knowledge while instigating more hatred in the world. If every reputable capper on covers left, you would be happy as can be, unless he shares your same racist views.

You are the joke of twitter, and the joke of other forums with former reputable covers members.

Fact is you heroize Ray Lewis and choose to conveniently ignore his behavior, but are the first one to attack anything penn state. You are a hypocrite, all for your own personal vendettas. Angry black man syndrome, get over it, 99 percent of white people had nothing do with us being slaves.

Let go of the pain and educate yourself, the Dr. would want it that way, playa!